

The new M1 chips sip power, remain relatively cool under load, and pack in enough performance for all but the thirstiest of users.Īnother important part of this transition is software support. Despite being first-generation products, M1 Macs are excellent in our experience. What to Look For in a Desktop Mac in 2022Īpple’s transition from Intel hardware to its own ARM-based Apple Silicon systems-on-chip is almost complete. What to Look For in a Desktop Mac in 2022 Best Desktop Mac Overall: iMac M1 (24-inch, Four Ports, 2021) Best Budget Desktop Mac: Mac mini M1 (2020) Best Desktop Mac for Video and Photo Editing: Mac Studio (2022) Best Desktop Mac for Students: iMac M1 (24-inch, Two Ports, 2021) Best Mac for High-End Performance: Mac Studio (2022) Update, : We’ve reviewed our recommendations and have updated our best photo and video editing and best high-performance sections with the new Mac Studio. ✗ High-end M1 Ultra configuration is expensive ✗ Not the Mac Pro you've been waiting for ✗ Performance very similar to M1 MacBook models ✗ Mac mini may be better for students who are comfortable sourcing their own display and peripherals ✗ Not portable, so not ideal for all students ✗ Unified memory means RAM is soldered, so no upgradeable at a later date ✗ You'll need to provide your own display and peripherals ✗ Cannot be upgraded like the older Intel-based Mac mini ✗ Dongles or hubs necessary to get more ports

✗ Hard to find a display that competes with the 24-inch iMac for the money ✗ White bezels and protruding "chin" not to everyone's tastes ✗ Might not be the best value choice if you already have a display and peripherals ✓ Tons of ports, a card reader, built-in Ethernet, in a charming form factor ✓ More than enough power for most applications ✓ Cheaper than a MacBook Pro in its base configuration ✓ Apple Silicon M1 chip delivers big gains over Intel models ✓ Hard to find a display that can compete at this price point ✓ Lots of ports, a media card reader, and dedicated cooling

✓ M1 Ultra offers insane performance for a price ✓ M1 Max is more than enough for most users ✓ MacBook Pro power (and beyond) at a desktop price point ✓ Officially supports up to two 60Hz monitors simultaneously (one 6K, one 4K) ✓ A wider selection of ports than most, with USB-A and HDMI out ✓ M1 chip puts older Intel models to shame ✓ The cheapest and best-value Mac with an M1 chip ✓ Surprisingly good downward-firing speakers ✓ Four-port model has more room for expansion and a slightly better M1 chip ✓ Great value Mac with everything you need to get started The 24-inch M1 iMac has everything you need to study hard: a new Apple Silicon system-on-chip, a stunning 4.5K Retina display, and color-matched Apple-branded peripherals.Īvailable with the powerful M1 Max or M1 Ultra systems-on-chip, the Mac Studio is the perfect stop gap for anyone waiting for a next-generation Mac Pro.

The Mac Studio is Apple’s most powerful Mac, with the entry-level M1 Max chip offering MacBook Pro performance at a cheaper price point (minus the peripherals and display). It's small, cheap, and especially well suited to the Mac-curious. The 2020 M1 Mac mini is Apple's best value computer, but you'll need to bring your own display and peripherals. Apple's redesigned 24-inch iMac looks the part and delivers next-generation performance thanks to the M1 chip and a beautiful 4.5K Retina display.
